Abstract #M172

# M172
Pre- and post-weaning performance and health of dairy calves fed texturized calf starters formulated with a combination of sunflower meal, linseed meal, or soybean meal compared with a starter with multiple protein sources.
D. Ziegler*1, H. Chester-Jones1, B. Ziegler2, A. Manthey2, 1University of Minnesota, Waseca, MN, 2Hubbard Feeds, Inc, Mankato, MN.

One-hundred eight (2 to 5 d old) individually fed Holstein heifer calves (39.6 ± 0.65 kg) from 3 commercial dairies were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 texturized starters (TS) 18% crude protein (CP) as fed, formulated with different protein sources to evaluate pre- (d 1 to 42) and post-weaning (d 43 to 56) calf performance and health. The study was conducted between October 2017 and January 2018. All calves were fed a non-medicated 20% CP:20% fat milk replacer (all milk protein) fed at 0.28 kg in 2 L of water 2× daily from (d 1 to 35) and 1× daily from d 36 to weaning at d 42; supplemented daily with neomycin sulfate and oxytetracycline at 22 mg/kg BW/day (d 1 to 14). Calf starter treatments were as follows: 1) TS formulated with multiple protein sources, (CON); 2) TS formulated with 25% sunflower meal, 75% soybean meal, (TSSF); 3) TS formulated with 25% linseed meal, 75% soybean meal, (TSLN); and 4) TS formulated with 100% soybean meal, (TSSBM). Water and TS were offered free choice from (d 1 to 56). Data were analyzed using the PROC mixed procedure of SAS and repeated measures analyses applied where appropriate. There were no differences in pre-weaning (d 1 to 42), post-weaning (d 43 to 56) or total gains (d 1 to 56) averaging 0.65, 1.15 and 0.77 kg/d respectively (P > 0.05). Hip height gain was similar across treatments averaging 11.7 cm. Post-weaning TS intake tended to be greater for TSLN 37.3 kg vs. CON 34.4 kg and TSSF 34.6 kg with TSSBM being similar at 35.2 kg (P = 0.08). Total TS intake (d 1–56) was similar across treatments averaging 56.9 kg (P > 0.05). There were no differences in gain:feed ratio, pre- or post-weaning or overall (d 1 to 56) across treatments averaging 0.62, 0.46 and 0.57 respectively (P > 0.05). There were no differences in scouring days, or health costs across treatments. Under conditions of this study calves fed a TS with a combination of sunflower meal, linseed meal, soybean meal performed as well as a TS formulated with multiple protein sources.

Key Words: calf performance, calf starter, protein sources